Admittedly, two defenders can force a ball carrier to plant both feet on the ground, preventing him twisting and spinning, rendering him vulnerable to a scything tackle at knee level.

However, there are plenty of NRL players capable of wrapping up a smaller ball player, one on one, preventing him making an offload.

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Asked whether a second man tackling the knees would be penalised, the NRL’s general manager of football operations, Nathan McGuirk said: ‘‘We are only looking at positions where two defenders are holding the ball carrier upright.’’

But it will only take a few leg injuries for the NRL to amend the rule.

Referees have differed in their application of the NRL's new rules. Photo: Getty Images

Football codes err on the side of blanket rules, as the action against the shoulder charge demonstrated. Sometimes it is preferable to allow the referee to rule on what he perceives to be dangerous.

There were instances during the trials where the third man in a tackle made contact with the ball carrier’s knee but was not penalised.

Referees have already taken liberty with the new rule dictating a zero tackle in the middle of the 20-metre line for any team kicking the ball dead.

The rule was meant to apply to teams slamming the ball into the back fence in order to prevent gifted fullbacks running it back.

However, referees are seemingly seizing on any excuse to rule an additional tackle at the centre of the 20-metre line.

During one trial match, a player dropped the ball in the field of play and then, in frustration, kicked the ball dead.

Normally, the referee would have ruled a scrum but a 20-metre restart was ruled.

Fans report witnessing in trials and the World Club Challenge instances where the attacking team knocked on in the opponent’s in-goal area in attempting to score a try, usually from chasing a kick.

Referees ruled a 20-metre restart and zero tackle.

While it is correct to rule a 20-metre restart, only knock-ons in the field of play attract a zero tackle.

Referees are morphing the rules, clearly trying to create more zero-tackle opportunities.

Afterall, the incidence of tries from a 20-metre tap is very low in the NRL.

The zero-tackle restart could see more tries, particularly late in a half as players tire. This will be particularly so when a team runs the ball on the last tackle, meaning exhausted defenders are forced to make two additional tackles.

Paradoxically, the new rules which are designed to speed up play, could result in less broadcasting revenue.

Faster restarts, such as the abolition of the scrum following a 40:20 kick, equal less advertising breaks.

But McGuirk said Channel Nine was involved in discussion on the new rules.

‘‘Regarding the 40:20, they said they wouldn’t take a commercial break there anyway,’’ he said.

‘‘They are aware the fan’s joy is lost when there is a 40-second break as a scrum is set following a 40:20 kick.’’

While there will continue to be 30-second mandatory breaks for a line drop-out and the same stoppage time when a ball finds touch, there may, in fact, be fewer quarter taps on zero-tackle restarts.

In the never-ending battle between the law makers and the law manipulators, referees may want more zero tackles but the coaches less.

The Sea Eagles ran the ball on the last tackle a number of times during the trials, aware that the opposition was forced to restart play only a metre from its own line - rather than at the 20-metre mark - with six tackles rather than the newly introduced seven.